N/A: Since I haven't written anything in like forever, I needed some preparation - basically this short short chapter you have before you. I'm sorry if the alert got your hopes up! (In case someone's still reading this).

I promise the next one will come shortly and it will be a real chapter :)

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own.

Intermission

Two months had passed since I left Konoha.

I mostly hid in the woods, since any shinobi to leave their village without permission was considered rogue. I sometimes thought if they had sent anyone after me and if so, who it would be.

Strangely enough my cooking skills had improved considerably - my hunting skills too.

All this time not a hint of where he might be. No one had seen or heard anything related to Akatsuki. Bastards were keeping low.

I was laying on the cold ground, in the fetus position, next to the burned out fire. I felt lonelier than I ever had and even though I would never admit it, I often let my tears show before going to sleep.

I had started to believe my whole mission was pointless. I get my revenge on Itachi and then what? Expect that Konoha would just welcome be back with open arms? I'd probably have Akatsuki on my tail. Probably wouldn't be smart to even try and go home...they might hurt the people I cared about.

A deep sigh, hot tears flowing down my face again and the familiar dizziness of near-approaching sleep.

oooooOOooooo

"Thanks Zetsu."
"We thouht you should know some girl's asking questions about you. She was in the Northern Woods few hours ago. Want us to kill her for you?" The dark side of Zetsu's face grinned.

"No. I'll handle this personally." Good thing I was used to hiding my emotions, my anger flared at the thought of him touching her.

"Suit yourself." Zetsu said, dissapppearing into the tree bark.

"Hunting, Itachi-san?" Kisame said with a grin.

"It appears so."

"I love me a good hunt!"

oooooOOooooo

"Neji, do you understand your mission?" Tsunade turned icy eyes to the Jounin.

"Hai, Tsunade-sama."

"I entrusted this assignment to you for your special skill. I will ask you one last time - are you sure your personal relationship with Ino won't affect your task?"

"We have no personal relationship to speak of - I met her as a Genin, but we exchanged few words."

"Good. You understand better than anyone the importance of keeping our village's justus secret. We cannot let something as dangerous as Shintenshin be revealed to our enemies. If she does not cooperate bring back her corpse."

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

"I don't think I need to tell you that this is a top-secret assignment."

Neji bowed and exited her chamber.

Tsunade's composure crumbled and her shoulders slumped.

Why did she leave like this? The idiot! Inoichi probably knows already...he knows we have to bring her back or take her out. Our enemies cannot have access to a Yamanaka's brain! The consequences might be...

Tsunade shuddered and took a sip out of her cup of sake.

There is no other way. I chose the lesser evil.

A/N: Please tell me if my skills have gotten rusty!